The Scottish Government has unveiled new plans to make senior charge nurses responsible for ward hygiene, describing them as the 21st century version of matrons.

As part of a new nursing framework, from 2010 all senior charge nurses working in NHS hospitals will be responsible for ensuring safe and effective clinical practice, managing and developing their teams, enhancing patient experience, and helping deliver performance targets.

Their role will specifically deal with enforcing hygiene standards and tackling healthcare associated infections at a leadership level.   

Speaking to senior charge nurses, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon commented: "It's crucial that the public have confidence in their NHS and know that they're going to get the best possible care if they need hospital treatment. That's why we must tackle the problem of HAIs, and the revamped senior charge nurse role is a key part of this.

"In some respects this is about going back to the future as senior charge nurses will have the same responsibility for ward hygiene as matrons used to have - set in the context of a 21st century environment.

"Throughout Scotland, senior charge nurses will ensure everyone receives the highest possible standards of care on their ward. This will strengthen their ability to be the guardians of quality and clinical standards for the patients under their care."

Responding to the announcement, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland director Theresa Fyffe said she was "delighted that the Government is acknowledging and promoting the pivotal role of the senior charge nurse in delivering patient-centred care in Scotland today."

She suggested: "In their leadership role, senior charge nurses can help reduce the rate of healthcare associated infections and ensure safe and effective clinical practices on wards. 

"If the implementation phase of the senior charge nurse framework is rolled out and supported appropriately by all health boards, it will make a huge difference to everyone's experience of healthcare."

The Scottish Government has so far invested £54 million over the next three years to help tackle healthcare associated infections.